see Reunion Photos for Reports and Pictures of Gauer Reunions
see my list of Lake Lillian News articles below
see articles for the Lake Lillian Centennial of 2023
stories of the Swanson and Kronbeck Swedish families of Grace
March 2017
added first 3 stories of Tromso Lutheran Church pioneers, Erik Larson and Anton Larson by Arlan Johnson
Feb 2017
revised and added photos to Erickson Family
added story of Johannes Andreas Johannessen Bomstad by Rosalie Sundin and LaVonne Hookom
Jan 2017
added story of Eliseus & Maria Katrina Bomsta by LaVonne
some edits to earlier storys
added much more to the story and photos of Wilton and Eleanor Bomsta
added story of Esa and Adele (Fredrickson) Bomsta by LaVonne
Dec 2016
added story of John G and Anna (Swenson) Flann by La Vonne
added story of Henning and Hattie (Flann) Bomsta by LaVonne
added story of George and Lillie Halverson by LaVonne
Nov 2016
revised main page with intro by LaVonne Bomsta Hookom
added story of Wilton and Eleanor Bomsta by LaVonne
added story of Hans Pete and Kristine Hanson, Written by Lenore Vick Magnuson March, 2004
added pioneer story of Albert Bomstad authored by Susan Granlund in 2014
added 150 year story of Lake Lillian History by Inger Giæver of Tromsø
Oct 2016
added pioneer pages of Elias Anderson, Andrew Anderson and Adrianna Anderson Bomstad authored by LaVonne Hookom.
Sept 2016
photos of 2016 reunion and additions to the Not so good old days. Also made additions to old local news
June 2016
date for 2016 reunion
Dec 2015
revisions to stories:
Cousin Glen USMC
Erickson Family
Aug 2015
rearranged pointers into categories. rearranged reunion photos.
July 2015
transitioned to new paid site host GoDaddy. Comcast dropped free hosting service for its cable customers.
my new domain name is gauer001.net.
This is simpler than the old one which was gauer001.home.comcast.net
June 2015
added 1862 - 1864
Feb 8 2015
added place for 2015 reunion and revised Super Computer page 1961 and added 1906 photo of Anton Hanson moving day to Erickson Family pages
Jan 15 2015
added Super Computer page 1961 and corrected caption on Aunt Lillian's pages
October 3 2014
added the Sweden and Norway pages about our trip in July to find family connections .
April 25 2014
added to the Erickson Family page with more about the early settlers.
October 23 2013
added the Tromso Connection page. Revised Sebulonsen pictures in Erickson Family page.
April 26 2013
Added Erickson Family history.
April 24 2013
revised Gauer History, Matt and Lena, The old home place. Lake Lillian Churches
March 9 2013
Added reunion pictures of 1981, 1987 and 1989. Added old local news of 1933 when the tornado came through East Lake Lillian.
Dec 5, 2012
Edits to these reports, LL news #5, #6. Better presentation to Clarence pictures. White background to my story and Sunday on the farm. Added Little Room 1946 School picture and names to ford garage picture.
August 21, 2012
added photos from 1986 and 2012 report
July 25,2012
Added links to Luce Line, LL history 4, and tractors. Added wedding picture of August and Frida to my Lake Lillian story.
May 26, 2012
Added Lake Lillian News pages.
February 6 2012
Added photos of 1998 reunion.
January 8, 2012
Added pictures to My Lake Lillian pages and content to Old Local news about the begining of the Lake Lillian townsite in 1923.
Added page of Harold WWII.
August 11, 2011
Added the 1996 transcript of an interview of Uncle Glen and Aunt Eleanor hosted by Duane and Lois Luneman
April 29, 2011.
Added the story of Cousin Glen Gauer jr when he was in the USMC during the War in Korea.
Aug 1,2010 and Dec 3, 2010.
Revised and added new content to the East Lake Lillian news of 100 years ago in Old Local News.
See also new pages of Aunt Elizabeth, Aunt Lillian, and Aunt Eleanor as copied from the Gauer Family History Book that was issued in 1985 by cousins Ruby and Lois.
Check out the pictures added to my story of Lake Lillian
My first attempt at posting these Gauer Familly History pages was in 2002.
The Lake Lillian News is a monthly news letter that started in July 1992. I have contributed some Lake Lillian History articles to it. My articles are a combination of things elsewhere on these pages and new recollections.
April 11, 2011
The Gauer Family Reunion of the family of Matt and Lena is scheduled for August 14, 2011. This will be the 81st annual since 1930 and it is 100 years since the original family was complete with the birth of Aunt Eleanor. That generation of 8 aunts and uncles is gone and 14 of the next generation (mine) of 42 cousins have also passed from this life. Many of the cousins now have large family reunions of their own.
Grace and I have enjoyed preserving the family history and hosting the gatherings for a dozen years. We know that our efforts have been appreciated.
We also know that good attendance and program participation is needed to enhance the experience for all. The lives of our younger families are very busy and we have seen a declining number attending our reunion in recent years. Sadly, the interest in family history is low in priority for many of our younger people and often awakens when it is too late to ask the elders. Last year our attendance was the least on record at 25. Several of the older cousins were not able to come because of temporary health issues. I believe numbers are important and that attendance of more than 40 people makes a better reunion.
Grace and I are still willing and able to continue supporting a successful reunion effort. Without a good attendance this could be the last annual reunion that we will schedule.
Your stories and recollections will be important family history for future generations. As time passes, family memories become more difficult to recollect and preserve. Write your history now to include dates, places, events and most important – identify people on photographs! We have equipment to copy and enhance old photos.
Reunion Participation: Descendants of Mathias and Magdalena Gauer have gathered yearly since 1930 or earlier. Sharing of photos, stories, and musical numbers are always welcome at the reunions.